The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-04

its pastorate only to devote his time TO the edu-
cation OF the freedmen. His grandfather.
father and he himself were shareholders. and
what he said was from no theoretical investiga-
tions but detailed the knowledge actual ex-
perience among those people gave him. He had
come in contact with them in their country
cabins, in the villages and towns and knew
them as they are on the sugar and cotton planta-
tons. DIR. Allen is an effective speaker. an
adept in illustrating his remarks with forcefui
anecdote, varying from the humorous to the
pathetic. He never goes beyond conversational
tone, but there not wanting frequent elo-
quent periods that touch the sympathies and
hold attention
He regards the future of the freedmen the
most important problem the government has to
meet. both as to its social and political signif-
canoe. These people were emancipated, raised
to citizenship. and given the right of suffrage
with bewilderng suddenness 1t was crit
ical period to them when they were left IN
wilderness without Moses. But through 1t all
unseen hand has guided them until they
arose up anew with all the privileges and power
of citizenship. Even when a race wins these
blessings for themselves they cannot be fully
appreciated in one generation. and how much
less, then, are people capable of approaching
such responsibilities whei. they are thrust upon
them. The negro must be assisted His future
must be nodded by the white race. or he will. in
a large degree, mold that of the Caucasian.
The Doctor, referring to Longfellow's lines.
There is blind Samson in the
land" said the negro is that blind
Samson in this land to-day. He
is uneducated, immoral and undeveloped. His
people cast l, APO, 900 votes, and of that great
number 1065.000 not read the tickets that
are given thera; can not read name on them,
not even letter in name. But the freedmen
with this mass of suffragists already hold the
balance of power in eight Southern States, and
before sixteen years 60 by they will control
twelve of these States. Seventy five electoral
votes are at their bidding, a large number of
congressman represent them, and sixteen
United States Senators are from the States in
which they hold the balance of power. The
Doctor dweit upon the danger of illiteracy to
the institutions of the country and said that
after ali the churches had done we had not kept
pace with ignorance among the voters.
Good government In the future will depend
largely upon enlightening the black men.
1t was said they would decrease. but at the
time Of the Revolution there were 700, OO0 slaves
in this country, when Mr.. Llncolns proclama-
ton was issued there were 8, 1884. 600, and now
there 1000, 900. The increase of the freed
men has been double within twenty five years
But the negro has come to stay, and
God has placed him here to remain.
This people have the elements of good citizen
ship. There can be found among them no irish
Papists, no French Communists, no German So
cialists. Russian Nihilists. Whatever idea
they have is purely American, and no people,
black white brown, are more loyal. They
read character with marvellous accuracy. and
knew rs we'll any one what the war was about
But, while loyal to the government, they were
also loyal to their old masters. When the South
had all its men in arms, the aged, women and
| children were at the mercy of the blacks. Yet
there is not single instance of slaves revenge
| having been inflicted on the helpless whom they
| had in their power.
| The Doctor said that the blacks have the
| brightest minds and learn with the readiness of
| the whites They stumble in mathematics
and logic. but in language, geography, spelling
| and writing white people could do better.
| In a presby.ery at Greensburg, N. c., he saw
mad fnr fhn pIrisf ry
| Each read Greek and Hebrew with the fuency
| of their white brethren, and twenty years before
| eleven of those slaves. He closed
| with account of the Presbyterian work among
those people, and solicited the aid of his hearers
| in promoting it with good contributions